DD's 9. She's very friendly and quite popular...I have a much quieter older DD who has always had a small group of best friends...think a core group of 3 girls plus older DD who always played together.
So when DD2 came along and had a very broad group of friendships indeed, including two "best friends" I was quite surprised at how different the girls' social lives were....and I'm quiet and introverted myself so it's all been eye opening.
So to get to the point...DD2 is asked on a LOT of playdates...this in itself isn't an issue, of course it's a very nice thing....but generally there are three or more invitations a week...either by text or face to face in the playground.
But sometimes she gets asked by kids she's not particularly keen on playing with....she doesn't MIND them as such but she's quite clear in that she would be just as happy NOT to go as to go...and sometimes she thinks she'd rather come home when a playdate with one of this group has been arranged.
It's never DD asking if she can have them to play here....wheras she'll ask for other kids...her two best mates for instance.
Then if I say yes...DD CAN go to play with one of the kids she's not that close to...I feel I must reciprocate. And that's hard when I work three days a week.
So what do I do? I got a text today "Can X have DD over to play on Thursday?"
So I asked DD "Do you want to go and play with X on Thursday?" and she's just not bothered....she'd go if I said "You're playing with X on Thursday" but there are so many of these invitations on a weekly basis that it feels a bit like I'm "lending" her out and that we wouldn't see her if I always agreed.
I know I'm rambling....the point is, what do I SAY? Do I say "DD says she's not bothered so no" or make something up? Saying she's not bothered is mean....so what then?